A sage who is
traditionally thought to be the creator of the Mahabharata, the second of the
two major Sanskrit epics, according to Hindu mythology.
As a consequence of his dalliance with the ferrywoman
Satyavati, Vyasa is the son of the sage Parashara.
Satyavati marries King Shantanu later in life, but only
after securing the guarantee that their offspring will govern instead of
Shantanu's firstborn son, Bhishma.
Satyavati's first son dies as a youngster, and his second
son dies after marrying but before producing children.
Satyavati begs Vyasa to sleep with the brides of her younger
sons, Ambika and Ambalika, in order to save Shantanu's dynasty.
Vyasa is a terribly unattractive man, according to legend,
and both ladies respond automatically when he comes in their beds.
Ambika conceals her eyes, causing her son Dhrtarashtra to be
born blind, while Ambalika becomes pale, leading her son Pandu to be born with
an unusually pale complexion.
Vyasa also has intercourse with Ambika's maidservant, who
freely submits herself to him, and Vidura is born from her.
The Pandavas and Kauravas, respectively, are the descendants
of Pandu and Dhrtarashtra, the two warring groups whose rivalry propels the
Mahabharata.
As a result, Vyasa is not only the Mahabharata's author, but
also the source of the Mahabharata's two families' fight.
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